Experienced or aspiring writers can find inspiration and a quiet place to work at the Pelee Island Book House, an inn on an island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie, midway between Learnington, Ontario, and Sandusky, Ohio. This spring and fall, there will be five- and seven-day retreats that will include workshops directed by accomplished authors in genres such as fiction, nature, poetry and memoir writing. There are also six-day self-directed residencies that allow writers to work on their own in the peaceful island setting. When not writing, participants can explore the island by bike or on foot. Cost of the author-directed retreats ranges from $600 to $1,200. That includes lodging in one of the inn's five bedrooms, three buffet-style meals a day and round-trip ferry passage to the island. The self-directed visits are $400-$500 and do not include the ferry. Taxes are extra. Info: http://tinyurl.com/zf4rado

If you like to travel and you like beer, you'll also like the Great American Beer Bars 2017 list from CraftBeer.com. Fans of the website were asked to nominate their favorite craft beer bar in their state, and more than 7,000 votes were cast. Some big cities show up on the list, but smaller towns get a shoutout too. In San Francisco, The Crafty Fox Ale House represents California. The pick for Connecticut is Willimantic Brewing Company, in the small town of the same name that's east of Hartford. Links Taproom in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood is the Illinois listing. Among other big-city locations are Max's Taphouse in Baltimore, The Mighty in Miami, The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta and The Avenue Pub in New Orleans. The whole list is at http://tinyurl.com/hqbdzz8.

Hiking Russia's volcanoes

The Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East contains volcanoes that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 29 still active, including Klyuchevskaya Sopka, which, at 15,584 feet, is the highest active volcano in Eurasia. Trekking Volcanoes of Kamchatka is an adventure Aug. 8-21 being offered by 56th Parallel. The 14-day/13-night trip will include hiking some of the active volcanoes where you'll see steam vents and smoking craters. There are also lava fields bordered by snow-covered mountains and the opportunity to venture into ice caves. Lodging will be a mix of hotels and tents. The trip has a limited number of openings and is priced from $3,760 per person, double occupancy. International air and visa fees are extra. http://tinyurl.com/hrx3q7v

Fall means sweater weather, crunchy leaves, bonfires and family time. Take the season to explore the great outdoors while temperatures are crisp and the summer crowds have dispersed. We've rounded up 12 rentals available on popular home-sharing websites that are perfect for an autumn weekend getaway. From a remodeled train car remodel to a cozy Victorian, there is something for every taste and preference. Prices are listed per-night and may vary by date.